DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS

Are you BeLIEVing, or will you BeLEAVEing? Have you ever wished you had a small guidebook that would give you the information to recognize potential danger, safely plan an escape or know how to reach out to a friend or loved one who is a victim of domestic violence? It’s on its way. BeLEAVEing is30

Sometimes both those who are knowledgeable of domestic violence and those who still have a lot to learn about the subject contemplate if there are various levels of domestic violence. For a long time I actually vacillated between confusion and guilt. I was verbally abused. I was emotionally abused. Later, I was grabbed by my30

Sometimes I feel we have belabored the question, “Why doesn’t she leave?” But, it just seems this question will never go away. Quite personally, I find myself being annoyed and put off by the fact it is still asked so frequently, especially by those who have very little if any understanding of domestic violence. Victims30

Given enough time, a victim of domestic violence is almost certain to hear, “It was an accident.” That could easily be part of the honeymoon phase that occurs in abusive relationships and domestic violence. Most of us know by now that domestic violence is truly a matter of power and control, rather than anger management.30

It can be helpful to keep a journal if you are a victim of domestic violence. If you decide to keep a journal about any domestic violence or partner abuse you experience, the first priority must be your safety. If you have an inkling of journaling on a computer that may be hacked, don’t do30

Well, let’s get ready, it’s time to use your safety plan you’ve been working on. You have finally decided it is time to leave. You want out of the abuse, the verbal and emotional abuse, being roughed up, or God forbid, the black eyes, bruised arms and heart-racing fear. Where do you start? What do30

How do you know if it is time to leave? (2nd of a 3-part series) Not a day passes that somewhere a victim of domestic violence is not contemplating if it is, in fact, time to leave. Maybe there has not been any physical abuse, at least not yet. “Just” the never-ending verbal and emotional30

When a victim of domestic violence makes that life-altering choice to leave, it should never be done without a safety plan in place and ready to use. Because they are so vitally important, I have decided to spend some time, and posts, on what safety plans are all about, how to develop one and then putting30

Drew Peterson has been found guilty. The trial is over. A jury decided that Drew Peterson is guilty of murdering one of his wives. Is this domestic violence? It is, in its highest and lowest forms. Drew Peterson wore a uniform as a police officer for years. It was his sworn duty to uphold the30

What is IPV? What do those letters stand for? What does it mean? Are you wondering what it has to do with domestic violence? I.P.V. is the abbreviation for Intimate Partner Violence. The definition of IPV, or intimate partner violence, as shared by the CDC is this: Intimate partner violence—also called domestic violence, battering, or spouse30